Saturday, December 9 I had the great opportunity to travel with a group from my church to a rural Alabama community to deliver Christmas presents to a town's 95 families. This impoverished town has virtually no industry and is unfortunately all too typical of Black Belt counties in Alabama. I could not get over the gulf that exists between the people who live in Vrendenburgh vs. those who live in Birmingham -- even our city's poorest areas seem wealthy in comparison to the living conditions there. Here's a story I wrote about the experience. I am particularly impressed by the Edmundite nuns who minister to the entire town:
Florence
Dortch’s smile spread across her face as she talked about the Christmas gifts
she’ll give to her four-year-old twins this year: a bike, a baby doll, and warm
clothes. These gifts would not be possible without the generosity of
parishioners from Hoover’s Prince of Peace Catholic Church, she says.
On Saturday, December 9, members of
Prince of Peace delivered hundreds of gifts to town residents.
“These gifts mean so much to my
family and to the entire town,” says Dortch, a 41-year old mother of four and
resident of Vrendenburgh, Alabama. Though she works three jobs, it’s still
difficult for her to provide for her family. Her story is not uncommon in this
impoverished Monroe County town.
Since 1987, Prince of Peace
parishioners have collected thousands of presents each year for Vrendenburgh
residents, guaranteeing each person a Christmas gift. The program works like
this: Residents specify their wishes for gifts. These requests are fulfilled by
parishioners who shop for and wrap gifts. Children receive two items and adults
one.
Needs range, from children who request toys and games to adults
who need pots and pans and blankets. The needs of many are basic with requests
like undergarments, clothing and toiletries.
A Community In Need
This year, Christmas wishes were
granted to 95 families, with more than $10,000 in gifts delivered to
Vrendenburgh. The presents are an exception in this town, where some houses
have only recently been equipped with electricity, and poverty is the norm.
“The residents really do appreciate
these presents – they look forward to it each year,” says Sister Kathy Navarra, an Edmundite nun who ministers to
Vredenburgh, along with Sister Lena Collins, Sister Pat Houser and Brother
Frank Hagerty. The Edmundites have been ministering to African-American
poor in the Deep South since 1937. Their leadership and work is vital in
Vrendendbergh, which is isolated from other towns and has virtually no
industry.
Once thriving, most jobs disappeared
in 1980 when the town’s lumber mill closed. Nearby towns of Monroeville,
Beatrice and Camden offer little in terms of employment. Most of the jobs that
are available are low-paying – it can be difficult for a resident to afford the
gas to drive the 30 or more minutes necessary in many cases.
“People want to work, and are hard
workers when they have a chance, but there aren’t many jobs,” says Dortch. Born
and raised in Vrendenburgh, she says she considers herself lucky to have her
three part-time jobs. She manages the nutrition program at the Vrendenburgh
Community Center, works at the pre-school and at the town thrift store, all of
which are operated by the Edumndites. “Even though we work hard, money is still
tight after we pay our bills,” she says.
Prince of Peace, along with other
churches throughout Alabama, has helped Vrendenburgh through a variety of
efforts year-round, including fundraisers, donation of Easter baskets and the
Christmas project, which involves months of coordination and volunteer hours
from the entire Prince of Peace community.
Tammy McMullen, a Prince of Peace
parishioner, is chair of the Vrendenburgh Project. She spends months preparing
for the delivery of the Christmas gifts, working with volunteers on everything from
sorting gifts to preparing the trees where the requests are displayed on paper
angels. McMullen has coordinated the effort for five years, and says that the
work is deeply personal for her.
“I feel it’s my calling because of
my upbringing,” McMullen says, explaining that she too grew up in poor
conditions. “I was like one of those Vrendenburgh children and I’ve turned my
life around, so I want to give back,” she says.
Learning to Give
It takes weeks for McMullen and
Prince of Peace volunteers to sort and organize the donated and wrapped gifts.
More than 20 Prince of Peace parishioners volunteered to make the three-hour
trip to Vrendenbergh this year to deliver the gifts. Included in the volunteer
group were adults and children, people who had made the trip several times and
those for whom it would be a first.
Carol and Alan Stanton were among
those who were journeying to Vrendenbergh for the first time. The Hoover
residents and Prince of Peace parishioners brought their children Chris, 11,
and Rebecca, 8. Carol Stanton says that she brought Chris and Rebecca so they
could learn first-hand that not everyone has the privileges that they do.
“Visiting Vrendenbergh as a family
was great,” Stanton says. “It brought our focus to what Christmas should be
about – giving instead of receiving.” She says she had always donated gifts to
the project, but seeing the conditions of the community made the project even
more meaningful
The entire Stanton family helped as
a truck filled with gifts was unloaded. Joining fellow volunteers, including
many local residents, they organized gifts for distribution. Each Vrendenbergh
family receives a bag filled with gifts that they requested. Afterwords, Prince
of Peace volunteers received a tour of the community from Sisters Kathy and
Lena.
Most of the residents live in what’s
referred to as “The Quarter,” a grouping of homes and trailers located close to
one another. Many of the homes are in disrepair, and the sewage system has
major problems – in fact land cleared for ball fields has been flooded by
sewage. The Edmundites work daily to improve these conditions, including
applying for grants to repair homes and build a much-needed playground. Other
assistance comes from some federal funds for the health clinic and lunches for
the elderly. They also accept private donations and are aided by Prince of
Peace and others who donate year-round.
Despite these obstacles, the people
of Vrendenburgh are part of a close-knit community, Sister Kathy says. “Most of
the people who live here have great attitudes, and there is a great sense of
family and support,” she says. She points to a group of seniors who gather
daily at the community center for lunch and activities, including making
beautiful quilts. “They are so positive and spiritual and really lift each
other up,” she says
Carol Stanton says that she and her
family have been touched by the people of Vrendenburgh. She plans on
volunteering to help sort gifts next year, and to make the project an annual
part of her family’s life. She said the experience has left a lasting
impression on her children.
“My children have said it taught
them to be more thankful for what they have.”
If you would like to volunteer, donate or
become involved with the Prince of Peace Vrendenburgh Project, please call the
church office at (205)822-9125.
As if there is any doubt what my best of 2006 is. I reflected on the year today as I drove all over town looking trying to accomplish two simple errands: buy a floor lamp and aluminum tiles for a kitchen backsplash. Six hours later I had neither but did find two great TJ Maxx Buddhas (insert eye roll from Shane). 2006 as a year was like that -- I spent a lot of time running around trying to get things right, getting frustrated when then they didn't turn out the way I expected, then realizing the outcome was OK if not better than my original expectations.
